Korg C-720 - Manual

Introduction > Main features 5 Temperaments In addition to the Equal temperament, the C-720 allows you toselect nine alternative temperaments, for historically accurateperformance of classical music, or experimenting. When se-lecting an acoustic piano sound, the typical Stretched Tuningis automat...

Control panel > 6 Control panel MASTER VOLUMEknob: Adjusts the vol- ume for the speakers,the Output and thePhones connectors PERFORMANCE button: Enters/exits Performancemode. While in this mode,the sound selection buttonsare used to choose perfor-mances instead of singlesounds. See page 18. VARIA...

Connections > 8 Headphone Hook Connections MIDI (OUT, IN) connectors: Connectors that are used toconnect other MIDI devices(sequencer, keyboards, etc.).OUT: Data output (to beconnected to the MIDI INconnector of another MIDIdevice). IN: Data input (to beconnected to the MIDI OUTconnector of anoth...

Connections > Connecting to external audio devices 9 Connecting to external audio devices Connecting to an external amplification system Use the OUTPUT connectors, if you like to connect your C-720 to a high-quality mixer, stereo hi-fi, or a couple of activemonitors. When using a stereo hi-fi, co...

Before you begin > Open the key cover 10 Before you begin Open the key cover Gently lift the center of the sliding key cover by the indentedportion, and support it while you slide it carefully and fullyinto the C-720. Before you open the key cover, make sure thatno foreign objects such as papers ...

Before you begin > Adjusting the volume 11 Adjusting the volume Rotate the MASTER VOLUME knob towards the right to in-crease the volume; towards the left to decrease the volume. Themaximum value is “10”; the minimum (silence) is “0”. Thiscontrol adjusts the output level of the headphones, the int...

Basic functions > Playing a single sound (Single mode) 13 Basic functions Playing a single sound (Single mode) When you turn the instrument on, it is in Single mode. The single Grand Piano sound is selected, and plays over thefull keyboard. Its name is shown in the display: You can replace it wit...

Basic functions > Playing two sounds at the same time (Layer mode) 14 Playing two sounds at the same time (Layer mode) You can play two sounds at the same time on the keyboard. Itis like having two “overlapping” sounds. This is called the Lay-er mode. Keep in mind that, when in Layer mode, the to...

Basic functions > Using the pedals 16 As an alternative, use the display controls: 1. Use the SCROLL buttons to move the cursor to the Left sound. 2. Use the VARIATION button to select a different soundvariation. As an alternative, use the +/YES and -/NO but-tons to choose a different sound varia...

Basic functions > Changing the brilliance 17 Note: When the instrument is turned on, transposing is reset. 1. Press the TRANSPOSE button to show the Transpose dis-play: If you do no changes, just wait some seconds for the pageto automatically disappear. Otherwise, you can exit fromthis page by pr...

Using performances > Choosing performances 18 Using performances Performances are registrations of sound combinations. In-stead of selecting single sounds, or a combination of sounds,you simply select a performance. A performance then recallsone or two sounds, each one with their own settings, pl...

Using performances > Changing the sounds assigned to a performance 19 Changing the sounds assigned to a performance You can change the sound or sounds assigned to the currentperformance, without the need of accessing the Edit mode. Note: You cannot change performance sounds while in Perfor- mance...

The metronome > Starting and stopping the metronome, adjusting the tempo 20 The metronome The C-720 incorporates a metronome, with which you can beat the tempo during practice or song recording. The metronome canbeat ordinary times, or drum patterns. Starting and stopping the metronome, adjusting...

The metronome > Choosing a time signature 21 Choosing a time signature When turning the metronome on from the Main page, the de-fault time signature of 4/4 is chosen, but you can adjust it byaccessing the Metronome page (as shown below). Note: If the PLAY/PAUSE button is flashing, you cannot chan...

The metronome > Adjusting the metronome level 22 Adjusting the metronome level You can adjust the metronome’s level, in relation to the overallinstrument’s volume. 1. Press the TEMPO/MET.SET buttons together. The firstMetronome page should appear. 2. Press the SCROLL button to go to the second Me...

Playing back a song > Accessing the Song Play mode 23 Playing back a song The C-720 incorporates a multitrack recorder, with which youcan record and play back songs. Since you can turn off a singlepart (say, the left hand), and leave another part playing (say,the right hand), this can be very use...

Playing back a song > How to start playback 24 5. After having selected an album, use the SCROLL but- ton to move the cursor to the song name again, thenchoose a different song: 6. Press the PLAY/PAUSE button to start playback and re-turn to the Song Play page, or the EXIT button to just re-turn ...

Playing back a song > Muting/unmuting a recorder’s part 25 Muting/unmuting a recorder’s part During playback, you can mute or unmute a recorder’s part.Muting is useful to play a part on the keyboard, while lettingthe recorder to continue playing the other. Depending on the settings made in Global...

Playing back a song > Cycle Play 26 Cycle Play When practicing, you can choose a passage to be repeatedagain and again. This way, you can try it until it is perfect. Thisis called the Cycle Play function. Note: When the Cycle Play is activated, the Fast Play function no longer works (see page 50)...

Recording a song > Quick recording procedure 27 Recording a song You can use the onboard recorder to create a song composedof up to three parts (left hand, right hand, drum). This songcan then be played back on the C-720, or transferred to a com-puter (see “Data transfer via the USB port” on page...

Recording a song > Step 2: Selecting sounds 28 To record over an existing song, select the song and press theRECORD button. Please remember that you can only access Record mode onUser songs. Songs contained in albums other than UserSongcannot be modified. Exit from the Record mode To exit from th...

Recording a song > Step 3: Setting the record options 29 Example 4: Recording each hand of a piano piece in two separate parts In this case, enter recording in Single mode, and press thePART 1 button to turn its indicator off. Only the PART 2 in- dicator will continue flashing. Go on recording yo...

Recording a song > Step 4: Setting the time signature and tempo 30 Step 4: Setting the time signature and tempo Before starting to record, tempo and time signature are thoseyou last selected with the TEMPO and MET.SET buttons. Youcan however choose a different tempo and time signature. Note: Afte...

Recording a song > Step 6: Second-pass recording 31 3. Press STOP to stop recording. As an alternative, press theRECORD button, or the pedal assigned as the Stop func- tion. The indicator on the RECORD button turns off. Thesong returns to the beginning. Note: After 999 measures, the record automa...

Recording a song > Changing tempo to a recorded song 32 Changing tempo to a recorded song If you are not happy with the tempo used for recording (mayyou recorded with a slower tempo), it is easy to adjust it afterrecording. Note: After having started recording a song, you can no longer change its...

Recording a song > Saving the song 33 Saving the song After recording, the song is stored into a temporary, non-per-manent memory. To preserve it from deletion when turningthe instrument off or choosing a different song, you must saveit into the User Song album. There are several ways to do it. B...

Editing a song > Setting Cycle Play 34 Editing a song After having been recorded, a user-created song can be edited, and then saved again in the User Song album. Please note that songs con- tained in albums other than UserSong cannot be edited. The only Edit function that can be accessed with the...

Editing a song > Cutting measures at the end of the song 35 Cutting measures at the end of the song You can cut measures at the end of the song. For example, youcould have recorded a long section, and then you erased it. Af-ter recording a shorter section, you ended up with a series ofempty measu...

Editing a song > Transposing the song 36 Transposing the song You can transpose the entire song, to make it match a differentkey. 1. After having pressed the EDIT button while in Song Playmode, use the SCROLL button to go to the Transpose edit page: 2. Choose a transposition value (in semitones)....

Editing a song > Saving the song after editing 37 When you reach the end of the name, a flashing asterisk(*) appears: At this point, you can either use the +/YES and -/NO but-tons to choose a new character, or press SCROLL to moves the cursor to the Save command: 3. Press the +/YES button to save...

Editing sounds and performances > Accessing the Sound edit mode 38 Editing sounds and performances The Sound edit mode is where you can edit sounds or perfor-mances. Edit parameters are exactly the same in both cases, butperformances also memorize the split point (if the sounds arein Split mode)....

Editing sounds and performances > Saving a performance 39 Saving a performance There are three ways to save a performance. Please find thembelow. After editing a sound 1. If you entered Sound edit mode with the PERFORMANCEindicator turned off (Sound mode), after modifying some-thing and pressing ...

Editing sounds and performances > Setting the volume 40 After editing a performance 1. If you entered Sound edit mode with the PERFORMANCEindicator turned on (Performance mode), after modifyingsomething and pressing EXIT, the Perf Modified page willappear: 2. While this page is shown, press the +...

Editing sounds and performances > Adjusting the effects 41 Adjusting the effects The C-720 is equipped with three types of effects: The following diagram shows the effect’s routing: Use the following parameters to select the reverb, chorus andinsert effects, and adjust how much of the sound must ...

Editing sounds and performances > Setting the chorus or modulation effect 42 Setting the chorus or modulation effect The chorus or modulation effect adds depth to the sound. Ei-ther you are in Single, Layer or Split mode, a single chorus ef-fect is available for both sounds (see diagram above). A...

Editing sounds and performances > Setting the octave transposition 43 Press the SCROLL button to go to the IFX Wet/Dry edit page, with the M (Main) parameter selected: Use the +/YES and -/NO buttons to set the amount of IFXapplied to the Main sound. This is the diagram of the mix betweeen Wet and...

Editing sounds and performances > Adjusting the fine tune 44 Adjusting the fine tune You can fine tune the Main and the Layer sounds (in Layermode), so that there is some “beating” between them. 1. After having pressed the EDIT button, use the SCROLL button to go to the Fine Tune edit page: Use t...

Editing sounds and performances > Selecting a scale 45 Here are the effects that can be assigned to the pedals inSound edit mode: 3. Press the EXIT button to return to the Main page and savethe changes (see “Exit from the Sound edit mode” onpage 38), or the SCROLL button to go to the next edit pa...

Editing sounds and performances > Resetting the current sound and performance 46 Resetting the current sound and performance Any custom programming of the current sound, sound com-bination or performance, can be reset to the original values. Hint: To reset all data, use the dedicated function in ...

Global settings > Touch settings 47 Global settings Global edit is where you can edit some general parameters, nottied to the single sounds or songs. Accessing Global edit Keep the EDIT button pressed for more than one second, toaccess the Global edit mode. Exit from the Global edit mode After ha...

Global settings > Master tuning 48 Master tuning In order to adapt the C-720 pitch to that of another instru-ment, you can adjust the pitch. Standard tuning is A4 = 440Hz. Note: If you enter editing later, you might see a different edit page instead of the first one. Use the SCROLL button to reac...

Global settings > Assigning functions to the pedals 49 Assigning functions to the pedals By default, the three pedals act as (from right to left) damper,sostenuto and soft. You can freely reassign them according toyour need or preference. You can either assign them to thesounds (see page 44), or ...

Global settings > Quarter Tone (SubScale realtime programming) 50 Quarter Tone (SubScale realtime programming) The Quarter Tone function allows you to program a customscale in realtime, for example those sudden scale change typi-cal of Arabic music. Changes are not saved anywhere (they areonly us...

Global settings > Turning the keyboard on or off (Local Control) 51 Turning the keyboard on or off (Local Control) Local is the parameter that allows you to establish whether thekeyboard has to play the internal sounds and transmit MIDIdata at the same time (Local On), or whether it just has totr...

Global settings > MIDI Filters 53 MIDI Filters When you choose a sound, operate the damper pedal, adjustthe level balance in Layer mode, or make other adjustments onthe control panel, a MIDI message is sent to a connected exter-nal MIDI (and/or USB) device. At the same time, C-720 canreceive a MI...

Global settings > Erasing songs from the User Song album 54 At this point, the C-720 should appear on your com-puter’s desktop or disk window as an external USB drive,with the name KORG SSD (i.e., KORG S olid S tate D isk, the technical name of the internal permanent memory). 4. Move files to or ...

Global settings > General Reset 55 General Reset You can reset all memory data to the original factory settings.This includes sounds, sound combinations, performances,global data. Warning: The general reset will delete all your user data, like custom performances, Layer sound balancing and global...

MIDI > What is MIDI? 56 MIDI What is MIDI? MIDI, is the abbreviation of M usical I nstrument D igital I nterface . It is an international standard that was created to connect and transfer data between electronic musical instruments, computers and other devices. What is MIDI Over USB? You can let ...

MIDI > Standard MIDI settings 57 Standard MIDI settings When turning the instrument on, the default MIDI factorysettings of the C-720 are programmed as follows: Using the C-720 as a multitimbral tone generator When C-720 is controlled from an external MIDI device, it canwork as a 16-part multitim...

MIDI > Control Change 58 Control Change When you operate the damper pedal, adjust the balance inLayer mode, or make other adjustments on the control panel,a Control Change message is sent to a connected externalMIDI device. At the same time, C-720 can receive a ControlChange message from an exter...

Installing the Korg USB MIDI Driver > Connecting the C-720 to a personal computer 59 Installing the Korg USB MIDI Driver The USB port can be used to transfer MIDI data between theC-720 and a personal computer (this is called the MIDI Over USB function). This is useful when your computer is not fi...

Installing the Korg USB MIDI Driver > Windows: Installing the KORG USB-MIDI Driver 60 Windows: Installing the KORG USB-MIDI Driver Please connect the C-720 to the computer via an USB cableonly after having installed the KORG USB-MIDI Driver Tools. Warning: C-720 cannot use the KORG MIDI Data File...

Assembling the stand > Cautions for assembly 61 Assembling the stand Cautions for assembly • When placing the piano on the stand, be careful not topinch your hands. • Be sure that the correct parts are assembled in the correctorientation and position, and follow the steps in order. • Do not apply...

Assembling the stand > Assembling procedure 62 Assembling procedure 1. Open the packing carton and take out the contents. Checkthat all of the following items are available. NB: You will need a cross-point (Phillips #2) screwdriver for assembly. 2. With the finished surface (woodgrain) facing for...

Assembling the stand > Check after assembly 67 20. Loosen the pedal adjuster, and adjust it so that it is in firm contact with the floor. Note: Unless the adjuster is in firm contact with the floor, the pedal will wobble, possibly causing malfunctions. Check after assembly [•] Are any parts left ...

Appendix > Sounds 68 Appendix Sounds Var. Name CC 0 CC32 PC* Osc. Description PIANO 1 1 GrandPiano** 121 0 0 4 Samples recorded from a gorgeous-sounding concert grand piano. It also includes four dynamic levels, sustain samples, and key-off samples, plus other EPx effects. Per-fect for classical ...

Appendix > Performances 70 Performances # Btn Name Sounds / Timbres Mode Remarks Bank 1 1 1 Split&Layr Piano&Str., Ac. Bass Split 2 2 Grand&Ride GrandPiano, Bass&Ride Split 3 3 Grand&Ebas GrandPiano, El. Bass Split 4 4 PnoStrings GrandPiano, String Pad Layer 5 5 EGrand Pad Ele...

Appendix > Effects 71 Effects Reverb Description / Beschreibung Chorus Description Hall 1 Reverb (Smooth Hall) Chorus Chorus Hall 2 Reverb (Smooth Hall) Harm.Chor. Harmonic Chorus Hall 3 Reverb (Smooth Hall) Chorus Dly Chorus Delay Wet Plate Reverb (Wet Plate) Ensemble Ensemble Dry Plate Reverb (...

Appendix > Songs 72 Songs Album: SongBook # Title Composer # Title Composer 1 Prelude 1 (The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1) J.S.Bach 17 La fille aux cheveux de lin C.Debussy 2 Invention No.1 J.S.Bach 18 Arabesque No.1 C.Debussy 3 Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring J.S.Bach 19 Prelude (Suite Bergamasque)...

Appendix > Error messages 74 Error messages Write Protect While saving a song, you are trying to write over a write-pro-tected file. The song has been previously copied from a PC,and it had the write-protect attribute turned on while on thecomputer’s disk. Change name to the song before repeating...

Appendix > Troubleshooting 75 Troubleshooting If during use any of the following problems should occur,carefully examine the instrument to see if you can find outwhat the problem is, and try resolving it by following the sug-gestions below. If the instrument will still not function prop-erly refe...

Technical specifications > Polyphony 76 Technical specifications Sounds processed with INFINITY™. Korg reserves the right to change the specifications without notice. Specifications C-720 Keyboard 88 key, Graded Hammer Action (RH3) Touch selection Eight velocity curves, plus fixed Key cover Woode...

MIDI Implementation Chart > Polyphony 77 MIDI Implementation Chart Function Transmitted Recognized Remarks Basic Channel Default 1–16 1–16 Memorized Changed 1–16 1–16 Mode Default 3 Messages X X Altered **************** Note Number: 0–127 0–127 0 – 120 in the case of piano sounds True Voice *****...

User’ s Manual DIGITAL PIANO Address KORG ITALY Spa Via Cagiata, 85 I-60027 Osimo (An) Italy Web servers www.korg.co.jp www.korg.com www.korg.co.uk www.korgcanada.com www.korgfr.net www.korg.de www.korg.it www.letusa.es www.korgpa.com © KORG Italy 2006. All rights reserved PART NUMBER: MAN0010006 EN...